155 
1873. The following are typical plants of this region. Of M. 
Blanche’s collection; Silene gonocalyx, Habrosia spinulifera; Althza 
rufescens; Haplophyllum fruticulosum; Astragalus tribuloides; 
Dipterocoma pusilla; Stipa Ehrenbergii. Of those reported by 
Prof. Paine there are several described as new species; Silene 
brevipes; Trigonella minima; Trifolium velivolum; Cephalaria tenella; 
Cerinthopsis foliosa; Phelipezea incana; Salvia Peratica; Plantago 
Cretica, #. tomentella; Plantago Phaeopis; Gagea monticola; Allium 
lachnophyllum; Carex eremitica; Bromus argypheus. Further 
study and extensive collections alone can determine the peculiarities 
of the desert flora. 
In its general characteristics, climatic and botanical, strong re- 
semblances may be traced between Syria and California. The same 
wet winters and dry summers, with breezes from a western sea, blow- 
ing over mountains, mostly bare of forests, and plains fertile only 
through irrigation ; the same hot sunshine, and the proximity of 
lofty mountains to semi-tropical valleys, produce analogies in vege- 
table life, which the writer hopes to trace in a subsequent paper. 
Without doubt, as the range of our knowledge in Geology and 
Botany increases, the knowledge of the lines of descent and analogy 
will extend, not merely to species and varieties, but to the mode of 
the formation of the continents, and the reasons for the distribution 
of plants, which are deprived of volition in their establishment and 
diffusion, as well as for the migrations of animals, which superadd to 
organic life, some degree of self-determined will. 
§ 156. International Botanical and Horticultural Congress.— 
The Botanical Society and the Central Horticultural Society of 
France, propose to hold, during the Paris Exposition of 1878, a 
Botanical and Horticultural Congress, at Paris, from August 16th to 
the 22d, inclusive. Botanists of all countries are invited, and those 
who propose to be present at the Congress, are requested to announce 
their intention to M. A. Lavallee, President of the “ Commission of 
_ Organization,” Paris. In the list of members of the Commission 
are the well-known names of Baillon, Planchon, Duchatre, Cosson, 
and other French botanists, with those of equally prominent horti- 
culturists. ; : ee 
The Commission desire that the widest possible publicity be 
iven to the proposed plan. G. T. 
. § 157. Botanical Papers.—Doct. A. Engler, of the Botanic Gar- 
den of Munich, Bavaria, is one the Editors of Dr. Just’s “ Annual 
Review.” He complains that, by the usual channels, contributions 
and publications are sometimes very long in reaching him, and re- 
quests that the authors of papers and botanical notes forward copies 
to him. His special departments are: 
of their publications directly 
the qonprechies! distribution of plants, and the morphology a the 
systematic botany of Phanerogamous plants. : : 
§ 158. Suffolk County Notes.—I was interested in a note, Upon 
the appearance and disappearance of plants, by Mr. Edwards, in a 
recent No. of the BuLLeTIN. I have had similar experience, though 
mine has not been so pleasant. I have to record more the disap- 
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